The UK has become the latest country to sign the UN Enable convention.
Governments who have signed and ratified the treaty are bound to carry out the following provisions for the deaf community:
- Facilitate the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community.
- Ensure that the education of persons, and in particular, children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximise academic and social development.
The convention also ensures that deaf students have access to teachers qualified in sign language.
The ratification of the Enable convention is not expected to have a significant impact in the UK due to the existing regulations for equality. However for countries which did not have previous legislation in place it will hopefully ensure better access for deaf people.
You can read more about the UN Enable convention by clicking here.